System, method, and medium to unlock an object

Abstract

A mobile computing device captures an image of an identification code on an object that identifies the object, extracts the code from the image, and forwards the code and a user ID to a server, which responds with digital key when the user ID has been verified. The mobile computing device converts the digital key into a pulsed light sequence that represents the digital key. An unlocking device attached to the object detects the pulsed light sequence, recovers the digital key from the pulsed light sequence, compares the recovered digital key to a pre-stored digital key, and unlocks the device when the recovered digital key matches the pre-stored digital key.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An unlocking system comprising:
 a mobile computing device that obtains unlocking information, converts the unlocking information into a flashing sequence, and controls a light-emitting component of the mobile computing device to output the flashing sequence as a flashing light sequence;   a flash detecting device that detects the flashing light sequence, and outputs a flashing signal that varies in response to the flashing light sequence; and   an unlocking device coupled to the flash detecting device to receive the flashing signal, extract a digital key from the flashing signal, compare the digital key to a prestored digital key, and output an unlock signal when the digital key matches the prestored digital key.   
     
     
         2 . The unlocking system according to  claim 1 , wherein to obtain unlocking information, the mobile computing device to:
 obtain identification information of a to-be-unlocked object;   send an unlocking request to a server, the unlocking request including the identification information and user identity information; and   receive the unlocking information from the server when the server determines that the unlocking request is legitimate based on the identification information and the user identity information.   
     
     
         3 . The unlocking system according to  claim 2 , wherein to convert the unlocking information into a flashing sequence, the mobile computing device to:
 obtain a key from the unlocking information; and   generate the flashing sequence corresponding to the key according to a preset conversion table.   
     
     
         4 . The unlocking system according to  claim 3 , wherein the flashing sequence includes a flashing signal with a flashing duration according to a flashing frequency, wherein the flashing sequence comprises the flashing frequency and the flashing duration. 
     
     
         5 . The unlocking system according to  claim 3 , wherein the flash-detecting device is a solar cell, and the flashing signal is a voltage change value output by the solar cell. 
     
     
         6 . The unlocking system according to  claim 3 , wherein the flash-detecting device is a photodiode, and the flashing signal is a change value of a reverse output voltage output by the photodiode. 
     
     
         7 . The unlocking system according to  claim 3 , wherein the flash-detecting device is a camera, and the flashing signal is a luminance change value detected by the camera. 
     
     
         8 . An unlocking method, comprising:
 obtaining unlocking information;   converting the unlocking information into a flashing sequence; and   controlling a light-emitting component to output the flashing sequence as a flashing light sequence.   
     
     
         9 . The unlocking method according to  claim 8 , wherein obtaining unlocking information includes:
 obtaining identification information of a to-be-unlocked object;   sending an unlocking request to a server, the unlocking request including the identification information and user identity information; and   receiving the unlocking information from the server when the server determines that the unlocking request is legitimate based on the identification information and the user identity information.   
     
     
         10 . The unlocking method according to  claim 9 , wherein converting the unlocking information into a flashing sequence includes:
 obtaining a key from the unlocking information; and   generating the flashing sequence corresponding to the key according to a preset conversion table.   
     
     
         11 . The unlocking method according to  claim 10 , wherein the flashing sequence includes a flashing signal with a flashing duration according to a flashing frequency, wherein the flashing sequence comprises the flashing frequency and the flashing duration. 
     
     
         12 . The unlocking method according to  claim 11 , wherein the flashing sequence further includes one or more of: an error correction code, a check code, and a digital signature. 
     
     
         14 . The unlocking method according to  claim 8 , further comprising detecting the flashing light sequence, and outputting a flashing signal that varies in response to the flashing light sequence. 
     
     
         15 . The unlocking method according to  claim 14 , further comprising receiving the flashing signal, extracting a digital key from the flashing signal, comparing the digital key to a pre-stored digital key, and outputting an unlock signal when the digital key matches the pre-stored digital key. 
     
     
         16 . A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium having embedded therein program instructions, which when executed by a processor causes the processor to execute a method of unlocking an object, the method comprising:
 detecting a flashing light sequence, and outputting a flashing signal that varies in response to the flashing light sequence; and   receiving the flashing signal, extracting a digital key from the flashing signal, comparing the digital key to a pre-stored digital key, and outputting an unlock signal when the digital key matches the pre-stored digital key.   
     
     
         17 . The medium according to  claim 16 , wherein the method further comprises unlocking the object in response to the unlock signal. 
     
     
         18 . The medium according to  claim 17 , wherein the flash-detecting device is a solar cell, and the flashing signal is a voltage change value output by the solar cell. 
     
     
         19 . The medium according to  claim 17 , wherein the flash-detecting device is a photodiode, and the flashing signal is a change value of a reverse output voltage output by the photodiode. 
     
     
         20 . The medium according to  claim 17 , wherein the flash-detecting device is a camera, and the flashing signal is a luminance change value detected by the camera.